The kids went back to school today. On the one hand? Sigh of relief, tick! Sneaky trip to Starbucks for a cuppa, tick! Peaceful house, tick!
On the other hand? Music turned up loud to break the silence, yup. Nagging feeling that it wasn’t quite long enough, uh huh. Countdown to summer begun, big yes!
I’ve noticed something over the last year. I now look forward to the holidays as much as, if not more than, the kids.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed our holiday time before that, but I always began the holidays with a slight feeling of dread. How could I possibly keep three kids, of such different ages, occupied for weeks at a time? On my own.
Of course, there are days when I’d cheerfully send them back to school, but mostly, the freedom that comes with the holidays is just wonderful. Lazy mornings, no rushing, fun days out.
That I could get used to.
I wonder of it’s because I’m getting better (more relaxed) at this parenting lark? Or is it because the kids are getting older?
I suspect it’s a bit of both.
A year ago the thought of taking all three kids on a day trip, on my own, was the stuff of nightmares. Far too stressful. But after a wonderful summer last year, where I braved the day trips and survived (in fact, more than survived), I’m not scared anymore.
Sure, there will always be the odd disaster or meltdown (and not always from the kids), but as a foursome we do okay.
And, what a difference even a few months can make. Especially with the wee girl. She’s calmer, better behaved and more independent. The stroller is only required if we’re walking a long way, or navigating very busy streets. I’m no longer a pack horse. And my eldest can help out!
Most importantly, we have fun. A lot of fun.
So, having just enjoyed a wonderful family holiday in New York (more to follow on our fabulous few days!), I am now starting to gather ideas for our summer bucket list. The kids loved visiting NYC, and they were great. Well behaved, interested in the sights, excited and enthusiastic. They walked for MILES!
They are growing up, and it opens up so many wonderful opportunities for holidays and days out.
Beach days, lots of swimming and camping are all on the cards again, but now city breaks and sightseeing are back.
Roll on summer!
Sharing with The Truth About.
It’s all about balance isn’t it? I love having those lazy days too during the holidays when you can all just hang out and be together, but I also still like to have some excursions planned. It’s getting more challenging for me now that they are older and wanting to do their own thing but when we do go on trips together we have such fun. Your photo yesterday reminded me of our trip to NYC 5 years ago when we had such a great time too and now busy planning a big trip to the West Coast in October for us all. Enjoy some you time it will soon be vacation time again.
Absolutely! We wrote a bucket list for the first time last summer, and it was great – we did so much more than we would have otherwise. And, it went from reading to playing video games to picnics in the garden and eating ice crea, to trips to the Aquarium and Museums and going camping. I suspect every age has it’s challenges – our four year old still gets tired and grumpy if we try to do too much! But seeing how well the (almost) ten year old kept up with us, enjoyed all the places we visited and got so much out of it made me so excited for trips over the next few years. I’m going to make the most of it while he still wants to go with us (he’s six years older than our youngest, so he’ll be off on his own long before the other two are!).
I love NYC, hubby and I went a few years ago for our honeymoon. I can’t wait to take the kids when they’re older but I couldn’t imagine doing it by myself. I admire you for your attitude x
New York was a family trip (just edited that sentence slightly to make that clear, as it definitely read as if I went on my own, sorry!) – four days in NYC would be pushing it BUT I would happily do a day trip with them, and I take them into Boston on my own. Now that my eldest is almost ten, I don’t have to worry about him the same way, it’s almost (almost) like having another adult with me in that he can help carry, push the stroller, hold hands with the littlest etc. My kids are 4,7 and almost 10 and they all loved it, even the four year old was so excited to be there. It was lovely :) Definitely a great place for a family holiday x
This sounds so familiar, although my youngest two are still in the bracket I wouldn’t dare take them on a day trip without some help. They both can outrun me haha. I definitely look forward to the holidays though. Their company is great. I love hanging out with them all together.
Ha, I know that feeling well! It’s really only been in the last year that I was happy to take all three, although my youngest still had to stay in the stroller a lot last summer! But over the last six months I’ve been leaving the stroller behind more often and now that she’s four I can really see a difference. Makes me really excited for the next few years :)
I am really looking forward to the next half term and then the Summer holidays! I was never this excited before. I just guess it is because both kids will be full time in September so i want to spend as much time with them now x
I think that has a lot to do with it. Once the kids start school, vacation time becomes even more special x
I really do look forward to our half term holidays together. More so because my two are still quite young so I really enjoy spending the half term with them and going out and exploring and keeping busy. It is enjoyable and I am so looking forward to this summer. x
I can’t wait for summer now! We had such a good time last year, and I’m hoping that this year will be even better :)
I absolutely agree with you! I cannot wait for every half term and break to come on round, 1 i hate the school run with a passion and two like you i feel so much more relaxed at home with the children, they are older 4.5 & nearly 7) so pretty independent and we can have some amazing fun days out! I love at home days to! Bring on the summer for sure! Here in hampshire it feels like winter ha!
Oh, yes, I HATE the school run! Lazy starts and relaxing days at home or fun days out, can’t wait for summer!
I always look forward to the holidays though the Easter ones were a disaster what with bad behaviour, my mountain workload and the kids being poorly! Argh!
Ah, yes. Life does sometimes conspire against us, doesn’t it! I am looking forward to summer though :)
I’m so jealous of your trip to NYC! I’ve only ever been there once – for one short winters day back in December 1994 and it wasn’t nearly enough!! I get what you’re saying about holidays with the kids though. There was definitely a point when we decided that it wouldn’t be possible to have a proper holiday (enjoyable, manageable) with a child under the age of four. I still kind of stand by that but I do still worry about running out of things to do with my two and being on my own with the two of them as well. Fortunately we have now got Merlin Passes for all the UK attractions like LEGOLAND, Chessington World of Adventures, the London Eye, London Aquarium etc. so I’m hoping that will keep us all more than entertained this summer! I’m especially looking forward to holidays with the kids when they are about age 8 – 11 – I think those will be the best! Xx #thetruthabout
NYC was fab, love it there :) So pleased that the kids enjoyed it too. Having a 9yo, I agree that 8-11 is a good age, he’s interested and engaged and can keep up without moaning! It was great fun :)
I feel the same way! I look forward to the last day of school far more than my kids ever do! I think it’s just getting to sleep in and not have to be on top of them to do their homework and all the other things on such a tight schedule and get to bed on time so they’re not tired in the morning.
I have to say, no school run is a huge part of my enjoyment of the holidays! I am very much looking forward to summer right now!
Holidays are such a special time. Our children are a similar age to yours 9, 7 and 19 months and while the children and I were marooned in the UK waiting for our visas to join Mr EE in the new posting we did a number of day trips, I did think about taking them over to Ireland or the continent for a bit of variety but it did not work out as we had to be able to hand passports into the embassy at a moment’s notice. You are so right about how helpful the older ones are. I can trust Master and Miss EE to push a buggy or carry things for me and they entertain Mini EE. LIke you I can’t wait to ditch the buggy. With Miss EE we did a holiday at 22 months without one but Mr EE ended up carrying her in a back pack a lot of the time so I think, realistically we have a few more months to go before we can do that with Miss EE when we are together and quite a bit longer for an adult on their own.
Yes, getting rid of the buggy is a big deal! Although, I think it will still be awhile before we travel without at least a tiny umbrella stroller, just so that we can do the walking we enjoy and not have to worry about tired little legs. But day trips, it’s so wonderful to not have to take one! Vacation really does take on a different dynamic once the kids get that bit older :)
Lamb starts school next year and I know I’m going to miss him terribly! I can’t imagine what it will be like when baby number 2 grows up and joins him! X
The holidays become a very special time, and now that I’m not working, they aren’t the logistical nightmare that they were before! I can’t wait for the summer :)
I love this post! It is harder to have what we’d ordinarily consider a ‘holiday’ with kids, but I think changing the perception and expectations can help greatly xx
When they were younger, it was really hard – Center Parcs was our favourite place as it felt like we all had a holiday when we were there, everywhere else was hard work! The kids getting older is making such a difference when it comes to things like holidays :)
We don’t go away during the holidays but I still look forward to the breaks, it’s just nice to be a to relax x
Even just spending time at home, without schools runs and homework and projects is wonderful!
I think we are finally turning this corner too! Little man sometimes struggles but things are getting better. We have booked a different holiday this year so hoping they can cope with it…..
I cannot wait till our first city break to somewhere like this. At the moment the baby is a bit young so we’re still on beachy sit down type holidays. It must be so much fun when even the kids are joining in and completely loving it. For now, we’ve booked our next trip to Edinburgh and I can’t wait :)